About me
Biography
Born in Mountain Ash, South Wales, I developed an interest in finding ways of expression through painting during my teenage years. I went on to study Fine Art in Stourbridge, graduating in the late1980s. Back then I used to create large oil paintings on canvas. Again, these were semi-abstract landscapes of an experimental nature. I would often spend several fun-filled hours throwing paint on a large canvas and creating a range of marks until the painting would ‘suggest’ some form and space which I would then develop further.
Despite my close connection with painting, in my mid-twenties I went on to pursue another career in youth work. I qualified as an informal and community educator and enjoyed a variety of jobs working with young adults in the homeless/social housing sector. This was a very fulfilling vocation which spanned 3 decades, but my call to express myself through painting was always in the background. I eventually returned to painting part-time in 2018, a little later than I had intended! In 2023 I decided to venture into this profession full-time, starting up a mural business to run alongside my landscape painting.
Paintings
I am still predominantly drawn towards the world of semi-abstract and expressionist painting when it comes to my landscape work. I find this approach gives me the most potential to express my experience of nature in a visual ‘language’ that I can relate to.
I enjoy the process of exploring and developing various experimental techniques and approaches in my work to create unique landscapes. I use mixed media in most of my work, combining watercolours, acrylics, pastels, acrylic inks and other mediums in a variety of ways. I use a range of tools, equipment and materials to create images including paint brushes, palette knives, rollers, pipettes, an air brush, plant material, collage, cling film, various textiles as well as digital editing on some of my work.
I have a garden-based studio in which I work, named by my two boys as the ‘Painting Shed’.
Murals
I am able to paint murals on any scale and provide a bespoke service, working closely with my customers to create paintings that they want, where they want them. Whether it is a mural in a garden, living room, bedroom, or a business developing a commercial space or advertising their company, I aim to design and create a feature wall that is unique to the customer.
Alongside this, due to my previous work as a youth and community worker, I have the experience necessary to work with groups of people to collaborate and regenerate the spaces that they use. Whether it is a care home, youth group, school or community centre I can offer a service that will involve people and teach new skills, and facilitate a project that can help them create a mural that is personal to them.
A Day in the Life…..
You can follow me and my experiences of setting up my own business as a full time artist. I will be sharing a wide variety of information, personal experiences and insights into this venture as well as giving updates on the paintings and the murals that I am working on. Alongside this, I will be sharing a range of learning material demonstrating various experimental landscape painting techniques, as well as a range of material focused upon techniques for mural painting.
Follow me on the links below if you would like a glimpse into the day-to-day experiences and work that I am progressing with.